Analyses of genetic diversity and population structure in Quercus griffithii Hook. f. & Thomson ex Miq. using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers.

Quercus griffithii is an ecologically and economically important tree species utilized for firewood, fodder, compost, and building-making. It is also a good source of food for wildlife. The genetic diversity of Q. griffithii is poorly understood; therefore, in the present study, 16 polymorphic SSR markers were used to assess the extent and pattern of genetic diversity in Q. griffithii samples collected from the northeastern region of India. The SSR markers revealed significant discriminating power (PIC range, 0.15˗0.81) and resulted in the amplification of 119 alleles. At the species level, it showed moderate levels of genetic diversity (Ho = 0.47; He = 0.52) with low genetic differentiation (F_ST = 0.06) and high gene flow (Nm = 3.91). Two genetic clusters, with high admixture populations were estimated in the Bayesian analysis of STRUCTURE, which was in accordance with clusters of UPGMA and PCoA. This is the first study to assess genetic diversity using SSR markers in Q. griffithii. The genetic information generated in this study will be helpful in the future conservation and restoration of Q. griffithii in the northeastern region of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]